FALSE
Claims that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker ordered SNAP (food stamps) machines shut down were completely false. Illinois DHS confirmed SNAP benefits continued operating normally. The viral claim spread unnecessary fear among benefit recipients and was debunked by multiple fact-checkers.
In 2025, a viral social media claim alleged that Governor Pritzker had ordered SNAP benefit terminals shut down across Illinois, leaving families unable to access food assistance. Illinois DHS immediately denied the claim, confirming SNAP operations continued uninterrupted. No such order was ever issued, and the claim appears to have originated from politically-motivated misinformation. The false claim caused panic among some SNAP recipients before fact-checkers debunked it.
The False Claim
Social media posts claimed Pritzker had ordered SNAP machines deactivated, leaving families without access to food benefits [1].
The claims spread rapidly on Facebook and Twitter, causing alarm among Illinois SNAP recipients [5].
Official Response
Illinois DHS issued a statement confirming SNAP benefits were operating normally with no disruptions [3].
USDA confirmed no state had authority to unilaterally shut down SNAP processing [4].
Harm Caused
The false claim caused unnecessary panic among vulnerable families relying on SNAP benefits [7].
Some recipients rushed to spend benefits fearing they would be cut off [8].
Conclusion
The claim that Governor Pritzker shut down SNAP machines was completely false. Illinois SNAP benefits operated normally throughout 2025. This case demonstrates how welfare-related misinformation can cause real harm to vulnerable populations.